How to Solve the Summer-Child-Care Nightmare

A Gallup poll found that nearly half of parents with school-age children “wished their children could have participated in summer programs, or participated more than they did.

Summer programs need more public funding to reduce prices for parents and increase the number of slots for children.

Barriers limiting access to summer care for lower-income families need to be broken down.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut introduced the Summer for All Act , the first major federal policy swing at summer care.

The bill would authorize $4 billion spread over four years , and $1 billion a year after that, for two grant programs.

Peter Bergen : Imagine what summer would feel like if care options were abundant and affordable.

He says the bill is not a slam dunk; it only authorizes the funding, which would still need to be approved by Congress .

National Academies of Sciences report: Summertime can either narrow or exacerbate developmental gaps.

Report: Kids need both structured and unstructured summer activities.

Families need early child care, before and after-school care, and summer care, says Lombardi .